Re: computer-go: Authenticating the identity of a remote go-playing computer program

[David Fotland <fotland@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There has been too much cheating already in Computer Go competitions, and
it has been very divisive, as the group that has cheated continues
to participate.  I don't think it a good idea to make cheating easier.

There is no comparison to playing friendly games on NNGS.  Huge amounts of
money are at stake.  The prizes in the competitions ($20,000) are large to
begin with, but the winner can usually get a good license in Japan, worth
perhaps $100,000 or $200,000 or more.  For someone living in a country
with a low cost of living, this is a fortune.

Cheating on NNGS is not going to make you so wealthy you will never have to
work again.

David Fotland

At 11:14 AM 12/6/00 +0100, you wrote:
>If I may throw in my 2 pence worth...
>
>Since as someone said before, cheating cannot be prevented even when humans 
>are playing (either having a stronger player make secret signs, or maybe a 
>more high-tech solution), I'm not sure why it would be a bigger problem with 
>computer-go... except maybe that more people might try to cheat.
>
>A cheater might win a couple of competitions, but not all of them will be 
>through the net, and if that program never competes "in person" or if when 
>it does it performs poorly, then everyone will know it as a cheater...
>
>Since organizing an on-line competition would require much less effort both 
>for the competitors and the organizers, I think people will participate even 
>if there were no money prizes. And then I think few (if any) will try to 
>cheat...
>
>In fact, it is exactly the same situation as when playing on nngs - who 
>certifies that I am who I say I am? Or that I don't have a better player by 
>my side? Or a book? And people still compete there...
>
>All in all, I don't really think cheating should be a big issue...
>What do you think?
>
>regards,
>Vlad
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